The history and tradition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup return to Toyota Park Tuesday (June 16) with a fourth-round matchup in the 102nd edition of the tournament recognized as U.S. Soccer’s National Championship. The Chicago Fire, four-time winners of the event, play host to Louisville City FC of the United Soccer League (USL), which ranks as Division III of the U.S. Soccer club hierarchy. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT and the match will stream live on Chicago-Fire.com, with the broadcast duo of Dan Kelly and Kevin Egan on the call.
TICKETS AND PUB TO PITCH
Tickets to Tuesday's contest are available via Ticketmaster, at the Toyota Park Box Office and by calling 888-MLS-FIRE. Group tickets are available at a discounted price by calling 888-MLS-FIRE.
Fire Season Ticket Holder tickets are available on Account Manager. Tickets to the fourth, fifth and quarterfinal round are available to Fire Season Ticket Holders as part of the U.S. Open Cup Series. For any questions on the Open Cup Series Ticket, please call Season Ticket Services at 708-496-6800.
Pub To Pitch rides to Toyota Park will be available from three Chicago locations: Cleos Chicago (1935 W Grand Ave.), Fado (100 W Grand Ave.) and The Globe Pub (1934 Irving Park Road). Purchase tickets at PubToPitch.comto enjoy the U.S. Open Cup experience in style.
FIRE SEEKING RETURN TO U.S. OPEN CUP GLORY
From the first year of its competitive history, the Chicago Fire Soccer Club excelled in this country’s longest running soccer tournament. The Fire hoisted the coveted Dewar Trophy in its inaugural season of 1998 and did so three more times (2000, 2003 and 2006) to stake a firm place in Open Cup lore. Among MLS clubs, only last year’s champion, Seattle Sounders FC, can match the Fire’s four U.S. Open Cup titles.
Last season, the Fire posted wins over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL), Columbus Crew SC (MLS) and the Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) to earn a second straight trip to the Open Cup semifinals, but their run ended in a semifinal loss to eventual champion Seattle Sounders. Chicago’s wins over Pittsburgh and Crew SC improved the club’s all-time record in Open Cup matches played in Illinois to an impressive 23-1-1.
“Last year we were fortunate to win a few games and make it pretty far [in Open Cup play],” said midfielder Harry Shipp. “Once you win a game or two your competitive drive comes out and you want to win it all. I think some organizations take it more seriously than others and ours is one that fortunately puts the Open Cup on par with MLS play.”
Following fourth-round contests Tuesday and Wednesday, sites and opponents for fifth-round matches will be determined Thursday, June 18.
A LOOK AT LOUISVILLE CITY FC
Founded in 2014, Louisville City FC is enjoying a strong debut season as a professional franchise, amassing a 5-2-5 record in USL action to date. Irishman James O’Connor assumed the honor of being Louisville City FC’s inaugural coach after a very successful playing career both in the English Championship and for Orlando City SC, which owns a minority stake in the new Louisville side.
With five goals and two assists in 2015, the name atop Louisville City FC’s season scoresheet might be a familiar one to Fire fans: Matthew Fondy. The forward spent the second half of the 2014 season with the Men In Red and appeared in eight MLS matches before signing on with expansion Louisville City following the year.
Louisville City FC began its inaugural U.S. Open Cup journey with a 1-0 victory over Lansing United of the National Premier Soccer League, setting up a trip to NASL side Indy Eleven. That match remained scoreless after 90 minutes and into the 115th minute before Louisville City’s Nate Polak broke the deadlock. With the hosts frantically pushing for an equalizer to force penalty kicks, Lou City’s Sidney Rivera buried a second for the visitors, icing a 2-0 win and earning a trip to Toyota Park in the process.
